FILLMORE >> Search and rescue crews Thursday continued their hunt for missing Arcadia firefighter Mike Herdman, who has been lost in Los Padres National Forest since Friday.

Officials and community members shared messages of hope and support as they anxiously waited for good news. Firefighters at the close-knit 51-member Arcadia Fire Department came together for a private vigil Thursday afternoon, an opportunity to share thoughts about their fellow firefighter and support one another.

“We are certainly continuing to be hopeful,” fire department spokeswoman Beth Stogner said. “We do appreciate the outpouring of concern and hope and prayers that have been extended to us. That is priceless. ... Keep hoping, keep praying.”

One glimmer of hope Thursday was a second sighting and near capture of Herdman’s dog, Duke, which officials said could be a good sign that Herdman is near the area and alive.

Search teams used a variety of different tools Thursday, the sixth day of searching after Herdman became separated from his camping companion when he chased his dog into the wilderness.

Eleven special agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Rapid Response Team deployed Thursday to assist in locating the missing man, joining the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Team in the search through the backcountry of the Los Padres National Forest.

“This is what our agents drill for and they’re gratified to be able to apply those skills in a real-life situation,” said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge of HSI Los Angeles, in a statement. “Emergency response represents a key part of the Department of Homeland Security’s mission and these teams are crucial to meeting those demands.”

Herdman, 36, went missing Friday while on a camping trip. Officials said he went on the trip with another Arcadia firelighter, Taylor Byars. Officials said Herdman was only wearing shorts and a T-shirt with no shoes when he ran after his dog.

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The focus of the search area was a two-day hike from the command post in Fillmore, officials said. There were 40-50 search and rescue personnel on scene. One was injured from a rattlesnake bite and has been taken to a hospital in Thousand Oaks.

Rescue personnel on scene said weather conditions in the search area were hot and windy and the terrain is littered with boulders, some of which are the size of an SUV. That combination made Thursday’s search more difficult. Ventura County sheriff’s Sgt. Eric Buschow said the effort was tedious and painstaking, with crews looking under every bush and rock.

Air support in the search included two unmanned aircraft with cameras from the Sheriff’s Department, which applied for an emergency certificate from the FAA for permission to use them in the search. Monrovia company AeroVironment also flew an unmanned aircraft called “Puma,” which was being monitored by the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.

Herdman’s father also joined in the search effort, officials said, and Byars has been on scene cooperating with investigators since the search began. Buschow said Byars was dehydrated and disoriented when he encountered two fishermen as he was walking out of the forest to get help.

“Had he not encountered these two men, he may not have made it,” Buschow said, adding that the men helped Byars walk to the parking lot.

Arcadia fire officials remained optimistic and strong.

“We want the public to know that Mike is a great person he’s a great firefighter as is Taylor who was with him and made his way out,” Stogner said. “We are proud of them both and are going to work through this together.”